Date:         Mon, 1 Aug 2022 07:35:06 -0400
Reply-To:     Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Raising the Poptop
Comments: To: Bill Glenn <idahobill@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2022072920032390@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

Hi Bill,

        I like your description.  It sounds like a very nice choreographed move!

        No doubt there are many w ways to get a pop top up and down.  And I’m storing away the tips.

        One issue for me is that I love my Buese Shelf and that is on the lifter bar.  You can still use the bar to push up but easier to pull down with the side bars and I tend to use the sides in both directions now. 

But, from reading the tips I’m more grateful to have the pop top struts.  Easy for me but it makes the up and down doable for my 5 foot 1 wife with ease.  She also uses the side method and I’ve forgotten how in the old days I was responsible for the pop top because it was too heavy for her to put up and down. 

Now, she is happy to take the van for girls VW bus events and has no trouble when I’m not around.

Wait a minute, that’s why folks don’t want the pop top struts!  Then wives will go camping without us!

I need to rethink this!

Eric Caron 


> On Jul 29, 2022, at 8:03 PM, Bill Glenn <idahobill@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> In view of the recent conversation about different ways of raising the poptop,
> here's what has worked for me. I'm 5-7 (170cm), slight to medium build, and
> now in my seventies, and have never had trouble raising the poptop, though it
> should be noted that I do not carry anything on the roof.
> 
> Stand under the skylight facing the sliding door. Grip the lifting bar with
> your right hand and place your left hand against the roof just forward of the
> skylight. As forcefully and as quickly as you can, push up with your left hand
> to the maximum extension of your arm and immediately drive your right hand
> across your body toward the front of the van, turning your upper body as
> needed to drive the lifting bar all the way home.  When these motions are
> smoothly combined, the poptop does indeed pop right up.
> 
> My wife, who is 5-1, can execute this, but comes up just a little short to
> drive the lifting bar all the way home, though she has succeeded at times.
> 
> Try this to see if it works for you.